Julius Joseph Kelber
Boatswains Mate 1st Class, USS WALKE (DD-416)
Julius was born the 12th of April 1908 in Exeter, New Hampshire the oldest of two sons born to Gasparis and Adelia Kelber. He enlisted into the Navy the 11th of December 1926 and received his basic training at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island until the 16th of February 1927.
He was first assigned to the USS FLORIDA (BB-30) from the 1st of March 1927 until the 14th of October 1930. He was promoted to Seaman 1st Class the 2nd of January 1928. He extended his original enlistment and was assigned to the USS PENNSYLVANIA (BB-38) from the 14th of October 1930 until the 10th of July 1931. He married Elizabeth Cavanaugh in 1930 and together they would have one son David. He was transferred to the USS FAIRFAX (DD-93) and served until his discharge the 21st of October 1932. He re-enlisted the 22nd of October 1932 and continued to serve aboard the FAIRFAX until the 3rd of January 1934 one day after he was promoted to Coxswain. He next served aboard the USS HANNIBAL (AG-1) until the 23rd of December 1935.
While aboard the HANNIBAL he was commended by his commanding officer for “courage and presence of mind displayed when motor whale boat capsized on 19 Apr 1934.” Julius next served at the Naval Torpedo Station in Newport, Rhode Island until the 31st of January 1938. He was transferred to the USS ALTAIR (AD-11) where he was promoted to Boatswains Mate 2nd Class in August and served until his discharge the 7th of November 1939. Julius again re-enlisted the 12th of January 1940 and was assigned to the commissioning crew of the USS WALKE (DD-416) on the 12th of April 1940. The WALKE performed convoy duty briefly before the second world war began, and following the attack on Pearl Harbor departed for the Pacific theater. Julius was promoted to Boatswains Mate 1st Class the 15th of August 1941. WALKE performed screen duty for the YORKTOWN while carrier-based aircraft attacked Japanese held islands in the Makin islands early in 1942.
While operating near Guadalcanal on the 15th of November 1942, the WALKE was struck by torpedoes from a Japanese Destroyer, sinking the vessel and taking 90 of her crew, including Julius with her. Kelber Drive in Marlborough is named in his honor.
